Beirut deaths near 180, with 30 missing

Heritage restoration

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said on Thursday it will lead an international campaign for the recovery and restoration of Beirut's heritage, citing local officials who said that around 60 historic buildings in the capital were at risk of collapse following the explosions.

Regarding the FBI's role, Lebanese authorities had invited the US law enforcement agency to take part in investigations, and it's one of the ways that Washington can help the country deal with the effects of the disaster, US Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale said as he toured the badly damaged Gemayezeh neighborhood.

"The FBI will soon join Lebanese and international investigators at the invitation of the Lebanese in order to help answer questions that I know everyone has about the circumstances that led up to this explosion," said Hale, who arrived in Beirut on Thursday for a three-day visit.

Lebanese officials agreed on Thursday on naming a judicial investigator to lead the probe under the auspices of the Supreme Judicial Council, which handles crimes that infringe on the country's national security, as well as political and state security crimes.

An Israeli expert said on Thursday the main explosion was preceded by a series of blasts, the last of which was combustion of fireworks.

Agencies via Xinhua